The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has called on the Federal Government to conduct a new National Population and Housing Census, noting that the country has not carried out the exercise in two decades.
Kwankwaso made the appeal in a statement shared on his official X account on July 11, 2026, to commemorate this year’s World Population Day.
He argued that Nigeria has continued to depend on data from the 2006 census for critical national planning in areas such as education, healthcare, security, infrastructure, employment, and the distribution of resources.
He said the absence of updated population data has affected effective planning and equitable development across the country.
“The last exercise, held in 2006, has left us relying on outdated population figures for critical national decisions on education, healthcare, security, infrastructure, employment, and resource allocation.”
Kwankwaso said accurate and current population statistics remain essential for governance, national security, sustainable development and inclusive growth.
“On this World Population Day, I strongly urge the Federal Government to prioritise and conduct a credible, transparent, and technology-driven national Population and Housing Census without further delay. The time for excuses is over. The time to act is now.”
